The Best Side Gigs for Cash-Strapped Parents

Whether you’ve been struggling to make ends meet or are saving up for a vacation, a side gig can be the perfect way to bring some extra income for the family. However, many parents are scared to take up additional work because they don’t want to miss out on precious family time. After all, what’s the point of making more money if you can’t spend it on the things that matter? These side gigs can all bring in a healthy amount of money, while still giving you plenty of time to enjoy the income with your family.

Rent Out Extra Space

This may not be an option for everyone, but if you do have an unused room in your house, you could make good money renting it out online. In fact, according to Travel & Leisure, AirBnB hosts make more than any other worker in the gig economy, with an average income of $924 a month.

This requires some time investment to set up an attractive profile; check out some great tips to do this here. However, once this is done, you only need to spend a couple of hours a week responding to queries and managing bookings.

Sell Your Handiwork

If you’re a crafty or creative person, you can start up a small business selling your creations. This can be an extremely rewarding option, as you will spend most of your time working on your existing hobbies and passions. You can either use a dedicated platform like Etsy or set up your own ecommerce site. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, so make sure you understand these before starting.

Spend Time with a Furry Friend

If you love animals, there can be no better side-gig option for you than taking care of them. There are plenty of people who need help with their beloved pets, and you can make money by feeding, walking, and playing with a bunch of lovely dogs and cats.

As a dog boarder, you will get to enjoy the animals as a family—without the long-term responsibility of getting your kids a pet of their own. If you don’t want to keep pets overnight, you can make good money as a dog walker. Some experienced walkers make up to $120,000 a year. There are plenty of apps to get started as a dog walker or pet sitter, giving you an easy platform to set up a profile and start working right away.

Flex Those Social Media Muscles

Ever find yourself spending hours on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, interacting with brands, people, and businesses you like? These days, that’s a marketable skill. Almost every business needs a social media presence, and this includes freelancers, bloggers, and influencers. Not all of them have the time or skills to focus on social media marketing as much as they’d like, which is where you come in.

Business Insider has called social media management “one of the most highly demanded skills in the job market” and claims that full-time managers make, on average, between $34,432 to $56,571 a year. As a side gig, it can bring in quite a bit of money—just make sure you prioritize a healthy work-life balance so you don’t find yourself scrolling through Instagram during family time.

If you’re starting a small business of any kind, you will need to be meticulous about spending money and find reliable sources of funding. Some people opt for small business loans or lines of credit while others go with a business credit card, which can help you separate your personal and professional finances. It’s important to choose the best type of funding for your business that doesn’t add to a cash-strapped circumstance, so do your homework.

Ultimately, a side gig can be whatever you want. The internet has empowered people to transform just about any skill or passion into a revenue stream, as long as you are determined, hardworking, and savvy. However, choosing side gigs that can be done from home, and that do not take up too much active time, is the best way to guarantee you still get all that wonderful family time.

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